There’s nothing like a stain on your carpet to really dampen your day, and, well, your carpet appearance. But, don’t lose hope. There are many ways to clean carpet stains — whether it’s with chemicals or natural products — that can revert a stained carpet back to its original look.
From pet accidents to chewing gum and fruit juice, find out how to clean these 10 carpet stains with things you probably already have in your home.
Remember, never scrub the carpet! You could damage the carpet fibers or soak the stain further into the carpet padding.
1. Pet Accidents
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Paper towels
- A vacuum
Directions: First, wipe up as much of the mess as possible, and then spread baking soda over the carpet stain. Pat the area with a paper towel and allow it to dry.
Then, vacuum the baking soda, which will not only clean the stain, but also remove the odor and disinfect the spot.
2. Coffee and Tea
What you’ll need:
- Club soda
- A colorfast paper towel or cloth
Directions: Pour liberally over the coffee and tea stain, and then blot to dry.
3. Blood
What you’ll need:
- Cold water
- Grease-fighting liquid dish detergent
- Paper towel or cloth
- Spray bottle
Directions: Combine cold water with two teaspoons of dish detergent in the spray bottle. Then, liberally spray the carpet stain until it’s completely moistened.
Blot the stain with the paper towel or cloth until the stain is transferred to the cloth. Repeat as necessary since blood can be difficult to remove.
4. Ink
What you’ll need:
- Isopropyl alcohol
- A white cloth
- A vacuum
- Water
Directions: Use the isopropyl alcohol to dampen the cloth. Then, dab the wet cloth onto the ink stain.
Pro tip: Never rub the carpet with the cloth as it could cause the ink to spread.
Ink stains can also be persistent, so you may have to repeat to fully take care of the stain. After the stain is removed, use water to rinse off any alcohol residue and vacuum the area until dry.
5. Ground-In Dirt
What you’ll need:
- Vinegar
- Cornstarch
- A dry cloth
- A vacuum
Directions: Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with one tablespoon of cornstarch, and then rub it into the ground-in dirt stain using your dry cloth. Let the mixture sit on the affected area for 24–48 hours and vacuum.
6. Fruit Juice
What you’ll need:
- Laundry detergent
- White vinegar
- Water
- A paper towel or cloth
- A vacuum
Directions: Make a mixture out of one tablespoon of laundry detergent, one and a half tablespoons of white vinegar, and two cups of water. Apply the mixture to the affected area and blot with a cloth. Then, vacuum to dry the area.
7. Jelly
What you’ll need:
- Non-bleach detergent (or white vinegar)
- Water
- A paper towel or cloth
Directions: Cleaning up jelly is actually quite simple. Just mix 1/4 teaspoon of detergent or white vinegar with four cups of water, and apply to the stain. Blot dry with a paper towel or cloth.
8. Chewing Gum
What you’ll need:
- Ice
- Spoon
- A vacuum
- Paper towel or cloth
Directions: Place the ice over the gum until the gum feels cold or frozen. Then, use the spoon to break the ice. Vacuum before the gum softens, and blot the carpet with your paper towel or cloth.
9. Grease
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Brush
- A vacuum
Directions: Mix together equal parts of baking soda and salt. Then, use a brush to work the mixture into the greased carpet spot.
Wait four to five hours and vacuum up the mixture to remove the grease stain.
10. Glue
What you’ll need:
- Cotton ball or cloth
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water
- A vacuum
Directions: Use the rubbing alcohol to dampen a cotton ball or cloth. Blot the affected area with the moistened cotton ball or cloth until it’s completely damp.
Once damp, try to gently wipe off the glue and repeat as necessary. Once the glue is removed, use water to clean up the alcohol and vacuum to dry.